Tuesday, August 23, 2016

It happened at 11:35 in the evening, local time, at Shelley's Backpackers, a hostel on the North-East coast of Australia.

This isn't Western Europe. You'd think you'd be safe from this sort of thing there.The suspect has been described as a "Frenchman," which presumably means he had a French passport.The victims were British.A woman is dead and a man is fighting for his life.The suspect was caught on camera screaming "Allahu Akbar!"From the Daily Mail:

Woman is dead and a man is fighting for his life after they were stabbed

The British nationals were allegedly attacked by a French national, 29

Police were called to Shelley's Backpackers about 11.15pm on Tuesday

French man shouted 'Allahu Akbar' during the frenzied stabbing attack

A French man screaming ‘Allahu Akbar’ went on a stabbing rampage at a backpackers hostel in north Queensland, killing a 21-year-old British woman and leaving a British man, 31, fighting for his life in hospital.

A third man, an Australian, received non-life threatening wounds and was released from hospital soon after the attack on Tuesday night, police said.

The attacker, 29, also stabbed a dog to death during the frenzy that was witnessed by a roomful of more than 30 people at Shelley's Backpackers.

Queensland state Deputy Police Commissioner Steve Golleschewski told a news conference on Wednesday that the attacker screamed the Islamic praise for God during the his frenzy.

'It is alleged that the suspect used the phrase "Allahu Akbar" during the attack and when arrested by police,' Deputy Commissioner Gollschewski said.

'Whilst this information will be factored into the information we are not ruling out any motivations at this early stage, whether they be political or criminal.'

The French man, who has been in the country a temporary visa since March, was also caught on police body camera shouting 'Allahu Akbar' as he was being taken into custody.

The alleged attack was being assessed for mental health issues and drug use.

He was taken to Townsville Hospital and is being questioned by police after more than 30 people witnessed the knife attack. No charges have been laid yet.

Australian Federal Police, who have a responsibility for investigating terror attacks, are also involved in the homicide investigation.

'At this stage, there is no indications to indicate other than that the fact he was acting alone,' AFP Commander Sharon Cowden said.

'Albeit it is a shocking incident and the community should remain vigilant.

'He was in lawfully in Australia and at this stage he was not known to authorities.'

Police say the man did not appear to have any ties to Islamic State.

Both the Deputy Commissioner and the Commander expressed their condolences to the families affected by the attack.

A third person, a 46-year-old local man, was taken to hospital with a stab wound to the leg but has since been released.

Superintendent Ray Rohweder said police were confronted by a 'terrible scene' when they arrived at the hostel.

'But both officers ... acted tremendously and ensured the safety of other persons at the venue,' he said.

Supt Rohweder said the officers asked the alleged attacker, who had sustained injuries to his arms, to lay on the ground before taking him into custody.

Investigators have the knife believed to have been used in the attack.